What you eat, everything from your meals to snacks, can have a huge effect on how your day goes. Here are some tips from Men’s Health Magazine to eat and sip your way to a successful day!
Breakfast
Eat This: Bacon or ham and fried eggs (Protein that will leave you feeling satisfied)
Benefit 1: Fullness and energy
Benefit 2: Relaxed blood vessel (i.e. lower blood pressure)
Not That: Pancakes, or a bagel with cream cheese
These carbohydrate-loaded options will send your blood glucose skyward and then crash! Leaving you hungry too soon.
Extra tip: Eat now at home, not later on the road.
A University of Massachusetts study found that eating breakfast out instead of at home more than doubles your odds of obesity.
Dealing with Stress:
Try This: Chewing gum
Benefit: Stress relief
Not That: Coffee
Caffeine can trigger a spike in the stress hormone cortisol.
Having Trouble Concentrating at Work
Drink This: Peppermint tea
Periodic whiffs of peppermint increase people’s concentration and performance on tasks requiring sustained attention.
Not That: Soda
Sugary drinks have proven to make people drowsy
Lunchtime
Eat This: Grilled salmon
Benefit: Alertness
Add This: Spinach or arugula salad
Benefit: Improved mood and memory
Not That: Tea with milk (Mixing milk (protein) with tea cancels out the health benefits)
Continue to complete your perfect day of eating menu.
They’re our choice of drink to wake us up or to keep us up when we’re planning for all nighters- but are energy drinks safe?
Here’s what Shape found out:
Common Ingredients
1. Taurine
This naturally found amino acid is typically offered as a dietary supplement, but it’s also found in fish and meat. Some sources suggest that you can take up to 3,000 milligrams of this supplement a day, however you should always be weary of consuming high doses. So far, the attitudes towards this acid are inconclusive, yet positive. “Taurine’s effective role in energy drinks alone requires more study, as it’s usually one of several ingredients that commonly tout a variety of claims, from decreasing sleepiness to improving concentration, mood and memory,” says Marisa Moore, R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
2. Caffeine
This stimulant has been at the center of heated debates for years. The results are always mixed: Caffeine may protect against ovarian cancer, but it also raises the risk of a miscarriage. A study of energy drinks conducted at the University of Vienna, Austria, found that combining caffeine and taurine improves mental performance of drinkers. That being said, caffeine can become addictive when taken regularly and should be consumed cautiously.
Are They Safe?
Energy drinks contain so many different herbs and supplements that they create a murky broth with unknown effects. Ginseng and ginkgo biloba, which are also common ingredients, can affect other medications you’re taking. “Gingko biloba may increase the risk of bleeding, which is a real caution for those who take blood thinners or who have a surgery or dental procedure scheduled,” says Moore.
The best thing to do is limit your consumption of these drinks, or even better, go au naturel. “If you feel the need for energy to fuel a workout or something during snack time, try a banana, granola bar or other whole grain energy bar,” adds Moore.
A glass of warm milk is NOT the way to get a good night’s sleep. You do not want to incorporate protein or fat in your diet right before bed. Here’s a list of snacks that have been scientifically proven to help you catch some shut eye.
1- Nonfat Popcorn
The carbs will induce your body to create serotonin, the feel-good hormone that makes you feel relaxed.
2- Oatmeal with Sliced Banana
Sleep is inspired by the hormone melatonin, but stress or excitement can disrupt melatonin’s release. Bring your brain back down to earth by whipping up a bowl of instant oatmeal and topping it with a sliced banana, which is rich in melatonin.
3- 1 Cup of Plain Yogurt with 2 Tablespoons of Mixed Nuts
Yogurt is one of the best food sources of lysine; nuts pack tons of arginine. Both have been proven to help people deal with stress.
Because both contain alertness-inducing protein, you’re better off eating this combo a few hours before bed (or even at midday, before a big, stressful presentation at work). It’ll reduce the residual stress you feel later in the evening, meaning you won’t replay your day over and over again in your head as you try to fall asleep.
4- A Pile of Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are one of the best natural sources of tryptophan, the sleep-inducing amino acid responsible for all of those post-Thanksgiving turkey comas. Hold off on the turkey sammies, though — the protein in the turkey might offset the tryptophan’s benefit.
5- A Handful of Pretzels
Pretzels are a source of carbohydrates, which make you feel sleepy, but since they’re also low in calories and fat, they won’t pack on the pounds or give you belly-aching indigestion.
6- 1 Glass of Wine
It’s called a nightcap for a reason — a glass of wine really does take the edge off. University of Toronto researchers discovered that one alcoholic drink causes people’s blood vessels to relax — but two begins to reverse the effects, so limit your intake. Relaxed blood vessels means lower blood pressure, slower heart rate, and greater ability to relax in general. You can protect your heart and prevent diseases, from cancer to Alzheimer’s, by eating certain foods.
7- A 4-ounce Glass of Unsweetened Cherry Juice
Cherry juice has serotonin-inducing carbohydrates, which will help relax you. Down the cherry juice an hour before bedtime in case you feel a small jolt of energy from the sugar. There’s not enough to keep you up all night or to destabilize your blood-sugar levels.
8- Red Bell Peppers
Researchers at the University of Alabama fed rats 200 milligrams of vitamin C twice a day and found that it nearly stopped the secretion of cortisol, a hormone released in your body when you’re stressed. Calorie for calorie, red bell peppers give you more vitamin C than any other vegetable or fruit.
According to MSN.Lifestyle
Bad breath is embarrassing and not pleasurable for you or those around you. The good news is that there are some things you can do to getting that fresh breath at home!
1-Spice things up
Carry a tiny plastic bag of cloves, fennel, or anise seeds to chew after odoriferous meals.
2-Brush your tongue
While brushing, gently sweep the top of your tongue, too, so that you don’t leave food and bacteria behind to breed bad breath.
3-Ban certain beverages
Coffee, beer, wine, and whiskey are at the top of the list of liquid offenders.
4- Carry a toothbrush
Some odors can be eliminated—permanently or temporarily—if you brush immediately after a meal
5- Create your own gargle
Mix extracts of sage, calendula, and myrrh gum (all available at health food stores) in equal proportions and gargle with the mixture four times a day
6- Eat your parsley
Parsley adds more than green to your lunch plate; it’s also a breath-saver, because it contains chlorophyll, a known breath deodorizer.
7- Chew a mint or some gum
Like mouthwash, a breath mint or minty gum is just a cover-up, good for a short interview, a short ride in a compact car, or a very short date.
8-Ease up on cheese
Camembert, Roquefort, and blue cheese are called strong for good reason—they get a hold on your breath and don’t let go. Other dairy products may have the same effect.
According to MSN Heath and Fitness
According to experts their are 14 reasons that you may be feeling drained. Here are the main culprits from Fitness.com
- You Don’t Exercise
- You’re an Irregular Sleeper
- You’re Taking New Pills
- Your Bedroom Isn’t Dark
- You’re Dehydrated
- You Slouch
- You’re Itchy
- You’ve Got a Major Sweet Tooth
- You’re Under Pressure
- You Drink Coffee or Soda
- You Snore
- You’re Iron Deficient
- You’re Lonely
- You’re Depressed
Lose fat, gain strength and to live younger longer are the promises given by Dr. Natasha Turner, author of The Hormone Diet.
Turner promises that you’ll experience good sleep, great sex and less headaches, stress, fatigue and weight gain once you successfully get your hormones in balance. These are some promises I couldn’t pass up, so as of last Monday I’m officially on the hormone diet.
Step one, of the three step program is to set-up your home, mind and goals. I had to “detox” my kitchen, (goodbye ice cream and coffee!) prepare my bedroom and figure out wmy weaknesses by answering a few questions from Turner’s book.
Step 2 was the official detox. After a week of being on the detox I have become a mini Martha Stewart. I am so use to microwaving a bag of popcorn for dinner that I have never used my kitchen. This detox forced me to use my virgin kitchen and to plan ahead. The first couple of days I had a horrible headache due to my addiction to caffeine, but now I can easily attend my morning meetings without wanting to sneak a sip from my coworkers cup. I have yet to be hungry since healthy food really does keep you full.
Eliminating all potentially problematic foods from your diet, including wheat, corn, peanuts, oranges, dairy foods, meats, sugars, as well as caffeine is so that we can better understand how they affect our body when we reintroduce them later. I will begin by reintroducing rye on Thursday morning!
Step 3 is to “restore your strength, vigour and radiance.” Turner provides three weight training programs that definitely provide a full body workout. She also recommends a healthy and regular sex life- with or without a partner. I have been working out less than I am use to, but feel that I am seeing better results because I’m finally eating to help my muscles and resting enough to give them the chance to recuperate.
I’ve only been following the hormone diet for a week now and am definitely reaping the benefits! I have more energy, feel better, stronger and have developed the cooking skills to impress any man!
Dr Natasha Turner has kindly agreed to answer questions for WatchMojo.com. Let us know what you want answered and we’ll be sure to get the answer.
Check back in a week to see how week two goes- or you can just start the detox on your own.
Cellulite doesn’t discriminate. If you’re tall, slim, small, round you most likely have cellulite somewhere on your butt or thighs.
Cellulite is that dimpled, orange peel, cottage cheese look that just isn’t flattering.
The causes are poorly understood, but there are some things you can do to fight cellulite.
Fight the lumps and bumps with these exercises. Experts recommend daily cardio exercise combined with two to three strength-training sessions a week.
Along with exercise, experts recommend a healthy diet. This means avoiding any fatty/starchy foods, as well as anything that can cause you to be dehydrated. Drink lots of water! Water will flush your body of its toxins.
Coffee has been said to both cause and rid cellulite. Learn more to make sure you’re using caffeine to its full potential.
Beware of the quick fix. If it sounds too good to be true- it probably is.
One is good, but two are better when working towards your health.
Use these combinations to reach each goal faster and reap the promised health benefits sooner.
1. Protect your heart
Green Tea + Lemon
2. Boost brainpower
Exercise + Music
3. Rev Immunity
Pot Roast + Carrots
4. Flush Fat
Burger + Frozen Yogurt
5. Save Your Eyesight
Salad + Avocado
6. Build Muscle
Weights + Stretching
7. Avoid metabolic syndrome
Meditteranean diet + nuts
8. Fight Fatigue
Eggs + Orange Juice
9. Bolster your memory
Curcumin + Black Pepper
10. Sidestep skin cancer
Caffeine + Cardio
According to Sympatico.ca
Sore after your workout? Maybe you should have downed a cup of joe to avoid that feeling. A small study suggests that caffeine may be used as a natural way to preemptively avoid muscle soreness. Read more…
Calories can be tricky and they add up very quickly! You can sweat for hours to lose calories that you will add right back on when you reach for the candy in your purse. The good news is that when you know what you’re eating you can avoid the bad and enjoy the good.
Here are some great and easy ways to cut extra calories from your meals and snacks without cutting out food.
Breakfast:
Ditch the Pop-Tart for a slice of high-fiber toast with strawberry jam.
Gotta have carbs? Split a bagel with a coworker.
Drink your two cups of joe black. Or order a single espresso instead of your usual latte.
Lunch:
Leave the Swiss cheese out of your sandwich.
Slather your bread with mustard rather than mayo and save 80 calories per tablespoon.
Pass up croutons at the salad bar.
At the Drive-Thru:
Pass up a Wendy’s baked potato with sour cream and chives and chow down on value fries instead. Amazing but true.
Have a McDonald’s cheeseburger instead of a Quarter Pounder with cheese.
Downsize your drink: Trade a large fountain soda (with ice) for a medium.
PLAY
